Readers often ask me for sensory play ideas for their young babies. While many of the playtimes I share are safe for young ones to partake in on some level, I thought it would be helpful to have a resource full of fun sensory play ideas specifically for babies that I can refer readers to when they ask. So I scoured my favorite children's sites yet again to bring you :
56 Sensory Play Ideas for babies!
Since all things are new to baby, let's start with:
~~ Simple Sensory Play Ideas ~~
Simply lay in the grass and explore the outside
Baby will explore new sights and sounds and feel the grass and air on their skin.
Quite a sensory experience for new life!
~~ Simple Sensory Play Ideas ~~
Simply lay in the grass and explore the outside
Quite a sensory experience for new life!
Go on a Sensory Nature Walk like The Pleasantest Thing
So many things for baby to discover and explore for the very first time!
Have baby explore their senses with shiny paper like Teach Preschool
Simple yet so much learning is taking place!
Try a Touchy Feely Runway like the one shared by Nurturestore on Babycentre
Explore textures with varying balls like Plain Vanilla Mom illustrates
As Make, Do & Friend illustrates, Sponges are all a baby needs for fun sensory exploration
Make fun Texture Boards like Carrots are Orange
(watch baby to ensure pieces do not come loose... or skip choking hazards when making these)
Make Treasure Baskets for baby like The Imagination Tree
Plain Vanilla Mom put a fun twist on the treasure basket concept with these Travel Boxes
Jewel would surly love this Tissue Paper in a Bag activity from Hands on: as we grow
Let baby explore a sticky surface with a Sticky Table like this one from Make, Do & Friend
We put a fun twist on this with a Blacklight Sticky Table and Jewel LOVED it!
Infant Massage is a great way for babies to explore their sense of touch as well
Get all the inofrmation you need on infant massage on Algeliquefelix.com
Have baby explore their senses with shiny paper like Teach Preschool
Simple yet so much learning is taking place!
Try a Touchy Feely Runway like the one shared by Nurturestore on Babycentre
Explore textures with varying balls like Plain Vanilla Mom illustrates
As Make, Do & Friend illustrates, Sponges are all a baby needs for fun sensory exploration
Make fun Texture Boards like Carrots are Orange
(watch baby to ensure pieces do not come loose... or skip choking hazards when making these)
Make Treasure Baskets for baby like The Imagination Tree
Plain Vanilla Mom put a fun twist on the treasure basket concept with these Travel Boxes
Jewel would surly love this Tissue Paper in a Bag activity from Hands on: as we grow
Let baby explore a sticky surface with a Sticky Table like this one from Make, Do & Friend
We put a fun twist on this with a Blacklight Sticky Table and Jewel LOVED it!
Infant Massage is a great way for babies to explore their sense of touch as well
Get all the inofrmation you need on infant massage on Algeliquefelix.com
~ For Babies Still Putting Everything in their Mouth ~
Make Sensory Bags
Great for babies still putting everything in their mouth and they are mess free too!
Make Sensory Bottles like these from The Iowa Farmers Wife
You can make these using just about anything!
Of course we had to make some GLOWING sensory bottles
We just love exploring with the blacklight!
Of course we had to make some GLOWING sensory bottles
We just love exploring with the blacklight!
I LOVE this First Sensory Bin from Plain Vanilla Mom
Another great sensory bin for babies is this Animal Hide and Seek Bin from Dirt and Boogers
Or you could give baby a Tub of Fabric Scraps to explore like Hands on: as we Grow
Make Sensory Eggs like these from Make, Do & Friend
Shaving Cream in a Bag is so much fun and keeps it out of baby's mouth and eyes
~~~ Play with Bubbles ~~~
The Imagination Tree writes a beautiful piece on the value of this simple and cherished activity.
Rainbow Bubble Sensory Play is lots of fun!
FUN!
Giant Sponge Sensory Play has remained a favorite here for many months!
Great for young babies!
Make Soapy Jars like Hands on: as we grow
Another great soapy sensory activity for babies from Hands on: as we grow is this Dish Soap Foam
Make Soapy Jars like Hands on: as we grow
Another great soapy sensory activity for babies from Hands on: as we grow is this Dish Soap Foam
~~~ Edible Options ~~~
There are so many ways to explore and play with pasta noodles!
Like this Bug Slime Spaghetti from The Imagination Tree!
Or this Searching for Sea Life Spaghetti World
Those are just a few ideas for spaghetti play. The possibilities are endless, and it is a great sensory material for babies!
Create an edible small world playscene like Rainy Day Mum
Like this Bug Slime Spaghetti from The Imagination Tree!
Or this Searching for Sea Life Spaghetti World
Those are just a few ideas for spaghetti play. The possibilities are endless, and it is a great sensory material for babies!
Create an edible small world playscene like Rainy Day Mum
Explore with Porridge oats like Make, Do & Friend
Try this Oatmeal Playdough found on Mama Pea Pod
Great for babies!
Mix oats with water for some fun and messy play like Carrots are Orange
I love this simple Edible Fingerpaint from Hands on: as we grow
Try Condiment fingerpainting like Mama Pea Pod
Let baby explore with Edible Glowing Fingerpaint
This Edible Puffy Paint from Rainy Day Mum sounds really neat, and we have yet to try it.
I bet both Rosie and Jewel would really like it!
Sensory Painting with Kool-aid was a lot of fun!
This is a great painting activity for babies who are still taste testing everything. It is actually bitter so they should not be too tempted and the pantings will be textured, vibrant, and smell fabulous!
JELLO is another fabulous sensory material for babies with endless ways to play!
Make a Jello Ocean Small World like the one we created here
Make a Jello Ocean Small World like the one we created here
Or try Snakes in Jelly like The Imagination Tree
I just love this idea!
Dirt and Boogers had fun with Jello and Cars
Make, Do & Friend added some learning to her play with Numbers and Jelly
And these are just a few fun ways babies can play with jello!
GOOP is another great sensory material for babies!
While eating goop should be discouraged, it is 100% safe to ingest, making it a great first sensory material!
Cloud Dough
The version Rainy Day Mum shares is non-toxic and lot of fun!
I just love this idea!
Dirt and Boogers had fun with Jello and Cars
Make, Do & Friend added some learning to her play with Numbers and Jelly
And these are just a few fun ways babies can play with jello!
GOOP is another great sensory material for babies!
While eating goop should be discouraged, it is 100% safe to ingest, making it a great first sensory material!
Cloud Dough
The version Rainy Day Mum shares is non-toxic and lot of fun!
~~~ Water Play ~~~
Make a simple water tub like Teach Preschool
The varying temperatures make for quite a sensory experience. Chasing the ice cubes is also great for hand-eye coordination.
Create a Sensory Pool Play like the Princess Sensory Pool we created
This play idea can be adapted to your babies interests, and choking hazards can easily be avoided.
We have created so many of these fun baths. Click here to see them all!
Have baby Chase Colored Ice Cubes in the bath
Simple fun from Dirt and Boogers
I love these Colored Water Bottles from Plain Vanilla Mom
For those who are moving away from the mouthing stage, you may want to try:
I did this with Jewel when she was only 8 months old. She only took one taste, and that was enough for her to know she did not want anymore.
**If trying this, be sure to watch baby closely so they do not get the shaving cream in their eyes.**
Rosie LOVED this and did not try to eat any of it! Watch baby closely though to ensure none is ingested!
Water Beads like Train Up a Child
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Close supervision is needed when babies are playing with water beads!
Note- Only do what you are comfortable with when playing with you own baby. Watch babies closely during play to ensure safety! These playtimes are meant to be enjoyed together.
Please let me know if you have any questions regarding any of the activities above.
Lots more sensory play ideas for kids!
Water Beads like Train Up a Child
Close supervision is needed when babies are playing with water beads!
So there you have it! 56 sensory play ideas to keep those babies busy and foster their exploration of this great big world!
Note- Only do what you are comfortable with when playing with you own baby. Watch babies closely during play to ensure safety! These playtimes are meant to be enjoyed together.
Please let me know if you have any questions regarding any of the activities above.
Lots more sensory play ideas for kids!
We share fun kids activities several times a week!
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